Chemical Use in Pregnancy Service
The Chemical Use in Pregnancy Service (CUPS) offers management and assistance for women and families affected by alcohol and other drug use. This also includes prescription medications that are necessary to maintain a mother’s health.
CUPS provides information regarding all aspects of alcohol and other drug intake during pregnancy and beyond, to enable informed choice about treatment options. Other interventions may include counselling, referrals to other services and a telephone support service.
Consultation and referral to a variety of agencies can be provided. A postnatal clinic is provided at Sydney Children’s Hospital where babies, including those with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), are treated expertly and confidentially.
CUPS liaises with other community service providers such as Methadone / Buprenorphine / Opiate Treatment Clinics, share care GPs and welfare, mental health and child protection agencies. Consulting with other key service providers allows for continuity of care during pregnancy and effective planning of follow up care, with discretion and confidentiality.
Call 02 9382 7111 and ask to page CUPS, or call The Langton Centre on 02 9332 8777 and leave a message.
If you are undecided about continuing with your pregnancy, CUPS can arrange for counselling to help with your decision.
Receiving the right care during pregnancy improves outcomes for mothers and babies, regardless of which substances are being taken.
CUPS is a voluntary service for women antenatally, but postnatally CUPS will need to be part of your baby’s follow-up care. Even if you don’t want CUPS involvement, it is essential that you have adequate antenatal care.
CUPS’ main aim is to give you the information you need to make informed choices about drug or alcohol use and treatment options, whilst keeping you and your baby safe.
CUPS has current information on the effects of substances and can work with you towards achieving stability or abstinence by the time your baby arrives. (Partners can also be referred for treatment or counselling if needed as it makes it much easier if those close to you support your choices.
CUPS can refer you to welfare workers to help with finding suitable housing prior to your baby’s birth. Unfortunately, some women are wary of CUPS as they are worried about Family and Community Services (FACS).
It’s true that CUPS workers, like all health or education workers, are legally required to report any real concerns that a child may be at risk. However, CUPS will be upfront about those concerns and discuss them with you beforehand and what possible measures of change may be possible or suitable.
The most common child-at-risk concerns are instability due to homelessness, domestic violence and continued unprescribed drug use.
FaCS see Methadone to be a protective treatment and are not automatically involved if that is current.